CHICAGO — It doesn’t happen often, but Chicago police managed to arrest two drivers during a night of widespread street “takeovers” earlier this month. And, as usual, both of the accused men don’t live in Chicago.
Cops were busy early on March 2, as donut-spinning drivers and hundreds of their fans blocked intersections across the city. On the Far South Side, a takeover took an ugly turn when a participant threw a large firework into a passerby’s SUV, causing an explosion that set the vehicle ablaze.
But that’s not where the arrests occurred. Instead, the two men were arrested around 1:20 a.m. in Lincoln Park, during a large takeover of the intersection at Fullerton and Cannon Drive, just north of the Lincoln Park Zoo.
According to a CPD report, between 50 and 100 cars were involved, and police from the local Town Hall (19th) District surprised everyone by approaching the crowd on foot instead of rolling in with their blue lights and sirens activated.
The officers placed a tire deflation device in front of the tires of a black Chevy Camaro that was allegedly seen spinning donuts in the intersection simultaneously with a white Dodge Charger.
According to the report, the Charger struck some spectators who had gathered around the intersection to watch, but no serious injuries were reported.
Cops arrested the Camaro’s driver, 26-year-old Oshea Rosenthall of Kankakee, and impounded his vehicle. He’s charged with reckless conduct, reckless driving, drifting, and various registration infractions, all of which are misdemeanors or ordinance violations.
They also impounded a 2013 Genesis Coupe belonging to Elija Perez, 18, of Oswego. CPD, he spun donuts “accompanied by a crowd blocking the intersection and a ring of fire.”
He also faces misdemeanor charges and ordinance violations, including mob action, reckless driving, reckless conduct, drifting, and registration-related matters.
Original reporting you’ll see nowhere else, paid for by our readers. Click here to support our work.
